Would you expect incense at a childrens Christmas Mass?

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Parishes usually dedicate a Christmas evening Mass to families with children. However do you usually find incense being used at this Mass?
I would like to request its use at the Christmas Eve Mass this year but in general do most families with young children not like this?
 
FAH said:
Parishes usually dedicate a Christmas evening Mass to families with children. However do you usually find incense being used at this Mass?
I would like to request its use at the Christmas Eve Mass this year but in general do most families with young children not like this?
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I think a priest using thurible with incense during a children’s Mass is solely the discretion of the priest himself.

There seems to be a trend in some parishes where the priest no longer uses incense.
Could be an ancient outdated liturgical custom (“or”) due to increasing health problems with parishioners who have made complaints to the Parish Rectory about difficulty breathing.
 
FAH said:
Parishes usually dedicate a Christmas evening Mass to families with children. However do you usually find incense being used at this Mass?
I would like to request its use at the Christmas Eve Mass this year but in general do most families with young children not like this?
Click to expand...
Please, request! Some parishes may not use incense because nobody is asking them to do so. They then assume no one wants it.

:highprayer:
 
JGMendes4049 said:
Please, request! Some parishes may not use incense because nobody is asking them to do so. They then assume no one wants it.

:high prayer:
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Traditionally Incense has always been part of a liturgical practice at Mass which is rich in symbolism. There has to be a legitimate reason why incense is not used unless of course the parish can’t afford a thurible, incense boat and stand.
 
centurionguard said:
Traditionally incense has always been part of a liturgical practice at Mass which is rich in symbolism. There has to be a legitimate reason why incense is not used unless of course the parish can’t afford a thurible, incense boat and stand.
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Which is not the case in most parishes.
 
centurionguard said:
Traditionally Incense has always been part of a liturgical practice at Mass which is rich in symbolism. There has to be a legitimate reason why incense is not used unless of course the parish can’t afford a thurible, incense boat and stand.
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AMEN.

On Christmas and Easter most of all, it is difficult to imagine Mass without incense. Incense is part of our worship, children need to learn and see this as much as we adults!
 
Well it really depends on the priest. Ask a sacristan or altar server.
 
centurionguard said:
Traditionally Incense has always been part of a liturgical practice at Mass which is rich in symbolism. There has to be a legitimate reason why incense is not used unless of course the parish can’t afford a thurible, incense boat and stand.
Click to expand...
JGMendes4049 said:
Which is not the case in most parishes.
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Where do you get this idea? Have you priced a thurible lately? I went shopping for one this year and was just floored at how expensive they are. I would imagine such a thing, in a very poor parish with tons of debt, would have to be obtained second hand, or received as a gift from a family of the priest or parish. I would really like to know on what do you base “in most cases”? Do you collect statistics for parishes across the United States? My assumption is that a diocese would not set up a parish without the basic necessities for Mass, a thurible being one of those items, but to say that all parishes can afford such an expensive item is a broad claim, unless you do in fact have access to financial statistics we are unaware of.

Sorry - I hate broad sweeping statements with no basis in fact.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
Where do you get this idea? Have you priced a thurible lately? I went shopping for one this year and was just floored at how expensive they are. I would imagine such a thing, in a very poor parish with tons of debt, would have to be obtained second hand, or received as a gift from a family of the priest or parish. I would really like to know on what do you base “in most cases”? Do you collect statistics for parishes across the United States? My assumption is that a diocese would not set up a parish without the basic necessities for Mass, a thurible being one of those items, but to say that all parishes can afford such an expensive item is a broad claim, unless you do in fact have access to financial statistics we are unaware of.

Sorry - I hate broad sweeping statements with no basis in fact.

~Liza
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In newer (“smaller”) modern parishes you might expect what you say.
Yes some turible’s can get expensive…most furnishings used in the liturgy are through the roof if your contemplating cost.
And respectfully; no I don’t think what I said was a sweeping statement.
 
lizaanne said:
Where do you get this idea? Have you priced a thurible lately? I went shopping for one this year and was just floored at how expensive they are. I would imagine such a thing, in a very poor parish with tons of debt, would have to be obtained second hand, or received as a gift from a family of the priest or parish. I would really like to know on what do you base “in most cases”? Do you collect statistics for parishes across the United States? My assumption is that a diocese would not set up a parish without the basic necessities for Mass, a thurible being one of those items, but to say that all parishes can afford such an expensive item is a broad claim, unless you do in fact have access to financial statistics we are unaware of.

Sorry - I hate broad sweeping statements with no basis in fact.

~Liza
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Sorry, let me clarify: in most parishes that I have seen.

If we want incense, and they don’t have a thurible, we need to donate one. 🙂
 
Some parishioners have serious problems with allergies and so some pastors try to have at least one Mass without incense and they let the parishioners know ahead of time which Mass that will be.
 
Makes you wonder how Christians lived long enough for there to BE a Church today since incense is so deadly.
 
zab said:
Some parishioners have serious problems with allergies and so some pastors try to have at least one Mass without incense and they let the parishioners know ahead of time which Mass that will be.
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I agree. One should be sans incense. Not all of them, however.
 
FAH said:
Parishes usually dedicate a Christmas evening Mass to families with children. However do you usually find incense being used at this Mass?
I would like to request its use at the Christmas Eve Mass this year but in general do most families with young children not like this?
Click to expand...
I think the real answers to your questions must come from your parish. Nothing wrong with asking, right? Please let us know what they say–I’m curious.

My parish regularly uses incense at Christmas and Easter. Not sure if they make an exception for the children’s Masses–haven’t been to those in a while.
 
Many children in parishes do not attend mass, they only show up for religious education, as the parents never take them. A children’s mass is a time for the children to learn what the church has to offer.

A mass with tall the smells and bells is when the priest needs the most altar servers, it is very appropriate at a children’s mass. My priest is very good at children’s masses at explaining why he does what he is doing, such as the incence.

Christmas is a time when insence are used in my church, no matter whether it be a children’s mass or not.
 
I’ve never seen it used, but I’ve haven’t seen incense used at my home parish since the early 90s. I simply do not expect incense at OF Masses anymore unless it’s a super special occasion like an ordination. It’s so awkward the way they swing the thurible too. I think more incense needs to be used so that priests and bishops get more experience swinging a thurible. I have yet to see a priest or bishop who can hold a candle to my FSSP priest in thurible swinging. His technique and artistic merit is simply astounding. 👍 😃
 
I asked the MC and he said its most certainly a no. Oh well he did say he would try to have incense at the the Christmas Day Mass.
 
Our parish regularly uses incense and I love it. Mostly at the Sunday morning masses. Of course not during Advent or Lent, but expect it will be used in every mass for Christmas.
 
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